Employment rates for July stayed the same

Date published: 8/30/2006

By KAFIA HOSH

Area jobless figures changed very little from June to July, according to information released yesterday by the Virginia Employment Commission.

In June, the statewide jobless rates increased because of students looking for summer jobs.

By July, younger job seekers found work, but temporary plant furloughs increased the unemployment figure.

"The two pretty much balanced out," said William F. Mezger, chief economist for the VEC in Richmond.

However, the city's unemployment rate increased slightly to 4.5 percent in July, up from 4.2 percent in June.

The higher rate in Fredericksburg is caused by students with seasonal jobs, Mezger said. The University of Mary Washington is located within the city limits, and students seeking jobs can greatly impact the unemployment rate.

"There's a lot of change in the labor market, a lot of comings and goings," Mezger said. "It just generates a little bit more unemployment in the area of Fredericksburg."

But this year's jobless rate for Fredericksburg is still lower than the July 2005 figure of 4.7 percent.

Stafford County's unemployment rate also increased. The rate inched up to 2.4 percent in July from 2.3 percent in June. The county's figure was 2.4 percent in July 2005.

Spotsylvania County's rate stayed the same at 2.3 percent. But that is still down from the July 2005 figure of 2.4 percent.

Virginia's July rate also remained unchanged--it held steady at 3.3 percent.

Among Virginia's 134 localities, Spotsylvania tied with six other jurisdictions for the third-lowest jobless figure.

Loudoun County had the lowest jobless rate statewide with 1.9 percent. Anything below 2 percent indicates a labor shortage.

Martinsville posted double- digit unemployment rates, which gave it the highest jobless figure in the state at 10.3 percent.

To reach KAFIA HOSH:540/735-1977
Email: khosh@freelancestar.com

Date published: 8/30/2006